Jennifer Brea had everything she ever wanted; she was a PhD student at Harvard and she had found the love of her life in her fiancee but when suddenly her body starts failing her, she was left with a diagnosis of M.E. (commonly known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and a whole new reality to adjust to.

In this moment of vulnerability, Brea picked up her camera and started to document her family’s journey while reaching out to her new-found community of those affected by the condition. Confined to her bed most days, Brea utilised Skype to connect with families from all over the world and tell their stories in this vulnerable and emotionally raw film.

Unrest is a touching and powerful document of Brea’s own struggles as well as the testament of the power of never giving up as she works to expose and challenge the stigma attached to her illness.

On Tuesday 24th October, the screening will be followed by a Q&A. On the same evening you can also experience the award-winning Unrest VR in the Bertha DocHouse lounge.

Unrest VR is an interactive non-fiction experience inspired by the film. An immersive journey into Jennifer Brea's experience of an invisible illness, ME, the project contrasts the painful solitary confinement of a bedroom world with the kinetic freedom of an inner dreamscape. When you’re too sick to leave your bed, where do you go?

Unrest VR premiered in the Virtual Arcade at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival. It was also showcased at Sheffield Doc/Fest in the Immersive VR section of the Alternate Realities Exhibition, where it won the Alternative Realities VR Award.